Combined Union artillery and naval gunfire bombarded the powerful Confederate gun emplacements at Fort McRae and Fort Barrancas around Pensacola in Florida. U.S. Navy units Niagara and Richmond, along with the artillery at Fort Pickens, pounded the area for two days in late November. Two days after the action, the Confederate regional commander, Major-General Braxton Bragg issued this order congratulating his troops for their defense and disciplined counter-fire. He also made reference to the Union shelling of the nearby town of Warrington, Florida. (By John Osborne)

Transcription adapted from The Rebellion Record (1862), edited by Frank Moore

Adapted by John Osborne, Dickinson College

Transcription date:

11/30/2011

Transcription

The following transcript has been adapted from The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. (1862).

General Order No. 130:

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF PENSACOLA,
Near PENSACOLA, Fla., Nov. 25,1861.

The signal success which has crowned our forty hours' conflict with the arrogant and confident enemy — whose government, it seems, is hourly looking for an announcement of his success in capturing our position — should fill our hearts with gratitude to a merciful Providence. This terrific bombardment of more than a hundred guns of the heaviest calibre — causing the very earth to tremble around us — has, from the wild firing of the enemy, resulted in the loss of only seven lives, with eight wounded ; but two of them seriously — five of the deaths from an accident, and but two from the enemy's shot. We have crippled their ships and driven them off, and forced the garrison of Fort Pickens, in its impotent rage, to slake its revenge by firing on our hospital, and burning the habitations of our innocent women and children, who have been driven therefrom by an unannounced storm of shot and shell. For the coolness, devotion, and conspicuous gallantry of the troops, the General tenders his cordial thanks; but for the precision of their firing, in this their first practice, which would have done credit to veterans, he is unable to express his admiration. Their country and their enemy will both remember the 22d and 23d of November.